Location of Oncogene-Related Proteins Determines Leukemia Onset

Oncogenes are frequently the source of cancer. The location in the cell where oncogene-related proteins are found plays an important role in the entire carcinogenic mechanism. Scientists around the world are concentrating on identifying oncogenes and their related proteins.

T-cell acute lymphoblastic leukemia (T-ALL) is the most prevalent cancer in children under 14 years of age and occurs predominantly between the ages of 2 and 3. At the moment, with optimal treatment using chemotherapy, over half of the children are cured. However, scientists hope to be able to develop targeted therapies that are less toxic than chemotherapy, based on knowledge of the biological processes behind T-ALL.

Kim De Keersmaecker, a member of Jan Cools' scientific team at VIB-K.U. (Leuven, Belgium) and colleagues in the Nederlands Kanker Instituut, (Amsterdam, The Netherlands), and Harvard Medical School, (Boston, MA, USA) demonstrated that NUP214-ABL1, a fusion of two genes, is carcinogenic only when it is in a protein complex near the nucleus of the cell. Located at another place in the cell, NUP214-ABL1 does not lead to cancer. Based on these results, the scientists want to further investigate the therapeutic possibilities of compounds that render binding between the protein complex and NUP214-ABL1 impossible. This study also indicated that the location of proteins could play an important role in other forms of cancer/leukemia.


Related Links:
VIB-K.U.
Nederlands Kanker Instituut
Harvard Medical School